Stuff You Never Knew You Wanted to Know about Israel

In response to our recent contest, Mimi asked us how long it would take to bike from the North of Israel to the South – tip to tip.

Here’s an answer to her question, as well as some other random facts about Israel you never even knew you wanted to know!

The distance from Metula (the northernmost tip of Israel) to Eilat (the southernmost point) is just under 300 miles! Some bikers traverse it over three days by biking about 100 miles a day. Others only stop for food (or to use the facilities) but don’t make overnight stops, and they complete the trip in about 26 hours or so. (And to think … I can barely make it from my car to the office, some days!)

There are two types of Israeli plugs, and both fit in the same socket (Cool!).

With peanuts introduced to their diets earlier (mostly in the form of the popular Israeli snack, Bamba), babies in Israel are 10 times less likely to suffer from a peanut allergy than children in the UK. (Is Bamba going to give Beachnut a run for it’s money?)

Israel boasts the highest university-degree-to-population ratio in the world, making it one of the world’s most educated nations. (I guess it’s smart to live in Israel!)

The land of the Jewish people is the only ancient civilization that has survived for more than 5000 years.

The cherry tomato was originally engineered in Israel, in 1973.

Both the Intel Pentium chip and USB drives (memory key) were developed in Israel.

Israel has the highest average standard of living in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding even that of the UK.

Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity and are welcomed with open arms.

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was produced by Haim Saban, an Israeli whose family fled from the persecution in Egypt.

In 1991, during the Gulf War, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played a concert wearing gas masks, as scud missiles fired by Saddam Hussein fell on Tel Aviv. (ONLY in Israel!)

Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.

Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.

Thirty-two UN member states don’t recognize Israel

An estimated million notes are left in the Kotel each year – and cleaned out before Pesach (Passover) and Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). These notes contain prayers and requests, and provide a tangible way for Jews from all over to connect to their creator. (This gives old meaning to the term “posting on your wall”)